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Species
Mya arenaria Linnaeus, 1758
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Biology/Natural History: This clam has been introduced from the Atlantic, being first seen in San Francisco Bay in 1874. It slowly spread north, and reached Alaska in the 1950's. By the 1920's it seems to have largely displaced the native clams in San Francisco Bay. This clam has long siphons, and can be 20-35 cm below the surface. It can live anaerobically for several days, and dissolves the shell to buffer acidity in these conditions. In San Francisco Bay its optimal intertidal depth is 30 cm above zero tide line. The siphons appear as slits at the surface of the mud, and emit a spurt of water as they contract if one steps near them. This clam burrows only slowly, without using the foot much. Burrowing is by closing the valves and forcefully ejecting water. Predators include skates, rays, and sharks. Predators in Europe include oystercatchers and curlews, from which the clams have a refuge in depth if over 15 cm deep. May contain pea crab symbionts. Mature at about 2-4.5 cm, and spawn in spring or summer. This species is highly esteemed for food.
Mya arenaria lives in burrows up to 50 cm deep in sand, mud, sandy mud, and sandy gravels from the mid shore to the shallow sublittoral, sometimes to a depth of 192 m. Often abundant on estuarine flats where it can survive at salinities as low as 4-5 psu.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1998-2011, The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
Source | http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3839 |
The unequal, spiral cleavage resembles that of Pecten and Venus. A ciliated blastula is formed, and gastrulation is by invagination, probably preceded by epibolic movement.
- Just, E. E., 1939. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia.
- Loosanoff, V. L., 1954. New advances in the study of bivalve larvae. Amer. Sci., 42: 607-624.
- Ayers, J. C., 1956. Population dynamics of the marine clam, Mya arenaria. Limn. and Oceanog., 1: 26-34.
- Battle, H. I., 1932. Rhythmic sexual maturity and spawning of certain bivalve mollusks. Contr. Canadian Biol. and Fish., 7: 255-276.
- Belding, D. L., 1915. A report upon the clam fishery. 50th Ann. Rep., Comm. Fish and Game, Massachusetts, pp. 93-234.
- Bumpus, H. C., 1898. The breeding habits of animals at Woods Holl during the months of June, July and August. Science, 8: 850-858.
- Kellogg, J. L., 1899. Special report on the life-history of the common clam, Mya arenaria. 29th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1898, pp. 78-95.
- Mead, A. D., 1900. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 30th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island 1899, pp. 20-42.
- Mead, A. D., 1901. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 31st Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1900, pp. 21-44.
- Mead, A. D., 1902. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 32nd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1901, pp. 20-33.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1903. Observations on the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria). 33rd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1902, pp. 29-48.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1904. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 34th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1903, pp. 29-68.
- Nelson, T. C., 1928. On the distribution of critical temperatures for spawning and for ciliary activity in bivalve molluscs. Science, 67: 220-221.
- Prytherch, H. F., 1937. The cultivation of lamellibranch larvae. In: Culture Methods for Invertebrate Animals, edit. by Galtsoff et al., Comstock, Ithaca, pp. 539-543.
- Stafford, J., 1901. The clam fishery of Passamaquoddy Bay. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1901, pp. 19-40.
- Stafford, J., 1909. On the recognition of bivalve larvae in plankton collections. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1906-1910, pp. 221-242.
- Sullivan, C. M., 1948. Bivalve larvae of Malpeque Bay, P. E. I. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, no. 77, pp. 1-36.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Costello, D.P., C. Henley, Datasets |
Source | http://hermes.mbl.edu/BiologicalBulletin/EGGCOMP/pages/33.html |
Depth Range: Intertidal (optimum depth in San Francisco Bay is 30 cm above zero tide line)
Habitat: In mud or sandy mud, sometimes mixed with gravel. Common in estuaries and other areas of reduced salinity (to as low as 23% seawater).
The egg is almost spherical; measurements of the diameter vary from 58 by 62 microns (Stafford, 1901) to 80 microns (Battle, 1932). Belding (1915) recorded 62.5 microns as the average diameter. The ovum is surrounded by a vitelline membrane enclosing a thin perivitelline space, and a jelly-case is often seen. A considerable amount of yolk is present, and the egg is grey. It is shed in the germinal vesicle stage.
- Just, E. E., 1939. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia.
- Loosanoff, V. L., 1954. New advances in the study of bivalve larvae. Amer. Sci., 42: 607-624.
- Ayers, J. C., 1956. Population dynamics of the marine clam, Mya arenaria. Limn. and Oceanog., 1: 26-34.
- Battle, H. I., 1932. Rhythmic sexual maturity and spawning of certain bivalve mollusks. Contr. Canadian Biol. and Fish., 7: 255-276.
- Belding, D. L., 1915. A report upon the clam fishery. 50th Ann. Rep., Comm. Fish and Game, Massachusetts, pp. 93-234.
- Bumpus, H. C., 1898. The breeding habits of animals at Woods Holl during the months of June, July and August. Science, 8: 850-858.
- Kellogg, J. L., 1899. Special report on the life-history of the common clam, Mya arenaria. 29th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1898, pp. 78-95.
- Mead, A. D., 1900. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 30th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island 1899, pp. 20-42.
- Mead, A. D., 1901. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 31st Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1900, pp. 21-44.
- Mead, A. D., 1902. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 32nd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1901, pp. 20-33.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1903. Observations on the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria). 33rd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1902, pp. 29-48.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1904. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 34th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1903, pp. 29-68.
- Nelson, T. C., 1928. On the distribution of critical temperatures for spawning and for ciliary activity in bivalve molluscs. Science, 67: 220-221.
- Prytherch, H. F., 1937. The cultivation of lamellibranch larvae. In: Culture Methods for Invertebrate Animals, edit. by Galtsoff et al., Comstock, Ithaca, pp. 539-543.
- Stafford, J., 1901. The clam fishery of Passamaquoddy Bay. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1901, pp. 19-40.
- Stafford, J., 1909. On the recognition of bivalve larvae in plankton collections. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1906-1910, pp. 221-242.
- Sullivan, C. M., 1948. Bivalve larvae of Malpeque Bay, P. E. I. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, no. 77, pp. 1-36.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Costello, D.P., C. Henley, Datasets |
Source | http://hermes.mbl.edu/BiologicalBulletin/EGGCOMP/pages/33.html |
De strandgaper Mya arenaria zou uit Amerika in de 16e of 17e eeuw geïntroduceerd zijn. Er zijn echter aanwijzingen dat de Vikingen deze soort - intentioneel als voedsel of toevallig in het water in de onderste regio van het schip - al omstreeks 1245-1295 naar Europa brachten. Omwille van de mogelijkheid om in verschillende omgevingstypes te overleven, heeft de strandgaper een wereldwijde verspreiding. Het is een grote schelpensoort - wel tot 15 centimeter - die wanneer hij in grote aantallen aanwezig is, de omgeving sterk kan beïnvloeden. Omwille van de ingegraven levenswijze (soms tot wel 50 centimeter diep in de zeebodem!) is de aanwezigheid ervan vaak moeilijk vast te stellen.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License |
Source | http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140430 |
Inseminate a fingerbowl of eggs by adding two or three cc. of sperm suspension. Leave for about 15 minutes and then decant the supernatant fluid and replace with filtered sea water. In about 12 hours the upper layers of water, containing free-swimming larvae, should be poured off into a large battery jar. Fill the container with sea water filtered through coarse filter paper, and aerate. The sea water should be changed every second day and a small quantity of mixed microplankton should be added daily. Old shells will provide surfaces for attachment as the time for metamorphosis approaches. Prytherch (1937) and Loosanoff (1954) give details for mass culture of larvae.
- Just, E. E., 1939. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia.
- Loosanoff, V. L., 1954. New advances in the study of bivalve larvae. Amer. Sci., 42: 607-624.
- Ayers, J. C., 1956. Population dynamics of the marine clam, Mya arenaria. Limn. and Oceanog., 1: 26-34.
- Battle, H. I., 1932. Rhythmic sexual maturity and spawning of certain bivalve mollusks. Contr. Canadian Biol. and Fish., 7: 255-276.
- Belding, D. L., 1915. A report upon the clam fishery. 50th Ann. Rep., Comm. Fish and Game, Massachusetts, pp. 93-234.
- Bumpus, H. C., 1898. The breeding habits of animals at Woods Holl during the months of June, July and August. Science, 8: 850-858.
- Kellogg, J. L., 1899. Special report on the life-history of the common clam, Mya arenaria. 29th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1898, pp. 78-95.
- Mead, A. D., 1900. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 30th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island 1899, pp. 20-42.
- Mead, A. D., 1901. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 31st Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1900, pp. 21-44.
- Mead, A. D., 1902. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 32nd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1901, pp. 20-33.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1903. Observations on the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria). 33rd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1902, pp. 29-48.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1904. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 34th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1903, pp. 29-68.
- Nelson, T. C., 1928. On the distribution of critical temperatures for spawning and for ciliary activity in bivalve molluscs. Science, 67: 220-221.
- Prytherch, H. F., 1937. The cultivation of lamellibranch larvae. In: Culture Methods for Invertebrate Animals, edit. by Galtsoff et al., Comstock, Ithaca, pp. 539-543.
- Stafford, J., 1901. The clam fishery of Passamaquoddy Bay. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1901, pp. 19-40.
- Stafford, J., 1909. On the recognition of bivalve larvae in plankton collections. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1906-1910, pp. 221-242.
- Sullivan, C. M., 1948. Bivalve larvae of Malpeque Bay, P. E. I. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, no. 77, pp. 1-36.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Costello, D.P., C. Henley, Datasets |
Source | http://hermes.mbl.edu/BiologicalBulletin/EGGCOMP/pages/33.html |
It is believed that the softshell or sand gaper Mya arenaria was introduced from America in the 16th or 17th century. There is also evidence that Vikings brought this species to Europe around 1245-1295, intentionally as food or accidentally in bilge water. Because the sand gaper is able to survive in different types of environments, it has a worldwide distribution. It is a large clamp – up to 15 centimetres – which, when abundantly present, can significantly influence the environment. Because of its entrenched way of life (sometimes up to 50 centimetres deep in the soil!) its presence often remains unnoticed.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License |
Source | http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140430 |
Mature animals of both sexes have a firm, hard foot and large creamy gonads, surrounding the digestive tract. It is probably best to use naturally-shed gametes obtained from isolated mature individuals. Eggs and sperm obtained by cutting open the gonads in sea water will, upon insemination, produce only about 10 to 20 per cent normal development (Mead, 1901); gelding (1915) also reported that artificial insemination is not very successful.
- Just, E. E., 1939. Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Animals. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia.
- Loosanoff, V. L., 1954. New advances in the study of bivalve larvae. Amer. Sci., 42: 607-624.
- Ayers, J. C., 1956. Population dynamics of the marine clam, Mya arenaria. Limn. and Oceanog., 1: 26-34.
- Battle, H. I., 1932. Rhythmic sexual maturity and spawning of certain bivalve mollusks. Contr. Canadian Biol. and Fish., 7: 255-276.
- Belding, D. L., 1915. A report upon the clam fishery. 50th Ann. Rep., Comm. Fish and Game, Massachusetts, pp. 93-234.
- Bumpus, H. C., 1898. The breeding habits of animals at Woods Holl during the months of June, July and August. Science, 8: 850-858.
- Kellogg, J. L., 1899. Special report on the life-history of the common clam, Mya arenaria. 29th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1898, pp. 78-95.
- Mead, A. D., 1900. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 30th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island 1899, pp. 20-42.
- Mead, A. D., 1901. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 31st Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1900, pp. 21-44.
- Mead, A. D., 1902. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 32nd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1901, pp. 20-33.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1903. Observations on the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria). 33rd Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1902, pp. 29-48.
- Mead, A. D., and E. W. Barnes, 1904. Observations on the soft-shell clam. 34th Ann. Rep., Comm. Inland Fish., Rhode Island, 1903, pp. 29-68.
- Nelson, T. C., 1928. On the distribution of critical temperatures for spawning and for ciliary activity in bivalve molluscs. Science, 67: 220-221.
- Prytherch, H. F., 1937. The cultivation of lamellibranch larvae. In: Culture Methods for Invertebrate Animals, edit. by Galtsoff et al., Comstock, Ithaca, pp. 539-543.
- Stafford, J., 1901. The clam fishery of Passamaquoddy Bay. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1901, pp. 19-40.
- Stafford, J., 1909. On the recognition of bivalve larvae in plankton collections. Contr. Canadian Biol., 1906-1910, pp. 221-242.
- Sullivan, C. M., 1948. Bivalve larvae of Malpeque Bay, P. E. I. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada, no. 77, pp. 1-36.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Costello, D.P., C. Henley, Datasets |
Source | http://hermes.mbl.edu/BiologicalBulletin/EGGCOMP/pages/33.html |
Mya arenaria is prey of:
Other suspension feeders
Mya arenaria
Crassostrea virginica
Polychaeta
Nereis
Macoma
meiofauna
Callinectes sapidus
Alosa pseudoharengus
Alosa chrysochloris
Anchoa mitchilli
Brevoortia tyrannus
Alosa sapidissima
Micropogonius undulatus
Trinectes maculatus
Morone americana
Arius felis
Platichthys flesus
Based on studies in:
USA: Maryland, Chesapeake Bay (Estuarine)
Scotland (Estuarine)
This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.
- Hall SJ, Raffaelli D (1991) Food-web patterns: lessons from a species-rich web. J Anim Ecol 60:823842
- Huxham M, Beany S, Raffaelli D (1996) Do parasites reduce the chances of triangulation in a real food web? Oikos 76:284300
- Baird D, Ulanowicz RE (1989) The seasonal dynamics of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Ecol Monogr 59:329364
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Cynthia Sims Parr, Joel Sachs, SPIRE |
Source | http://spire.umbc.edu/fwc/ |